The San Diego-based cruiser Chancellorsville knocked down a pair of drones in the first over-the-horizon test of a new Raytheon missile that's designed to protect the fleet from incoming warheads.

Raytheon says the Chancellorsville fired two Standard Missile-6 ship-defense interceptors earlier this month at the Point Magu Sea Range off Southern California, and that both weapons took out the BQM-74 drones that were serving as cruise missile targets. The experimental interceptor is the newest version of the ship-launched Standard missiles that are carried by many U.S. Navy vessels. The Standard 6 is an extended range variant, designed for use against aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles, Raytheon says.

In a statement, Raytheon program manager Jim Normoyle said, "The SM-6's ability to engage threats at significantly greater ranges than other missiles in its class is a game changer for the U.S. Navy. We verified the weapon's new processor earlier this month, and we're preparing for the USS Chancellorsville's Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials in November."

The Chancellorsville has fired many missiles over the years, including nine Tomahawks that targeted the Iraqi Intelligence Center in Baghdad in June 1993. More recently, the ship fired a Standard Missile-2 in April during a test of its Aegis Combat System.